posted January 03, 2008 11:42 AM         

The latest update follows:

Hello all,

I thought I'd send out an update of my progress thus far. This Friday will be my last radiation therapy treatment. The main issues that I've encountered from this is a fatigue that will just hit me out of the blue and make me feel like just sitting and doing not much else. The steroid therapy I'm on also has some effects that I would rather be living without, however I am currently tapering off of the steroids and should be finished with them in a little over two weeks. I am also now off of all pain medications so my mind and body are feeling stronger. I'm still taking things a day at a time, and my new mantra is "it's not a matter of pain, but a matter of strength." This seems to help me quite a bit in those moments when I'm not sure if standing up from a sitting position is going to surely happen for me! Today I was reminded of the Marine saying "pain is just weakness leaving the body." I suppose the two concepts are related in a way.

I would like to thank everyone who has been praying, thinking, chanting, sending good thoughts, sending cards, letters, food, money, support, providing rides, asking of my well being, babysitting, concerning themselves with Amanda's well being, those working out in the open and those behind the scenes. Thank you all so much for the support, for the kind thoughts and for the good vibes. It has all helped. My journey is far from done, however some of the largest challenges are soon behind me. I will find out in a few weeks how well the therapies have done and will then find out if more radiation will be required, or if chemo is in order. I am hoping that neither will be needed. I have been given a very good chance of full recovery and as such feel very lucky, especially given the advanced state of the tumor when it was discovered.

I owe a great debt to Amanda and our children for their support and love. Amanda has been my anchor. The Unitarian Fellowship of Ames as a whole has been a wellspring of charity that has truly restored my faith in humanity. The outpouring of love and support for myself and my family by the Unitarian Community has been overwhelming. I cannot say thanks deeply and meaningfully enough to express my gratitude. For those who have taken on care of our pets or have helped in various mundane logistics of our lives during this time, thank you so much. Without your assistance this time would have been much more stressful than it already was. The kindness you all have shown is just reinforcement to me that the world is a beautiful place and worth living for.

I have found out from a friend that did some work at Mayo clinic, along with online research about the tumor type I have that there are two major correlations that could have come into play in this developing. The one mentioned by my friend is that for this type of tumor in the section of the back that I have it in is not uncommon for those working in the computer industry. The exposure to CRT type monitors on a daily basis for years can bring about this type of tumor. I would suggest everyone that is reading this get an LCD screen ASAP. The other correlation that I came across is exposure to agri-chemicals. Having grown up in Grand Junction, Iowa, I have been exposed to agri-chemicals almost my entire life via the tap water. This is something that I will be bringing up to the Municipal Water Plant as soon as my health allows it. In Grand Junction the practice of mixing and filling chemical tanks at the sight of the well head has been done for as long as I can remember. This is something that should stop. This practice is tainting the water supply in my opinion, and putting many many people at untold risk. For those of you who receive this that live in Grand Junction I hope you will stand behind me when the time comes to deliver this message to the powers that be. Our children's health and the health of our friends and neighbors is at risk.

If anyone is getting this message that feels that they should not be getting it, please let me know. If there is anyone that you feel should be added to these messages, please let me know. If anyone is lost as to what this message is about, please let me know and I will send out complete background on my condition.

Again, thank you all for taking the time to send out your thoughts and extend your help. I hope this message finds you all in good health and in good spirits and amongst those who you love. Peace, love, health,
-- Kevin H. Feeley

------------------
The truth is ... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else. ~ Countee Cullen

posted January 03, 2008 08:37 PM         

Your a Trooper and Truly Inspiring with Your Strength!!!

Thanks!!!

Much Love!!!

Thanks for the update Amanda!!!

posted January 03, 2008 10:05 PM         

Kevin you, Amanda and those people you mentioned in your update who have done so much for you and your family through this rough time in your lives truly are inspiring to the rest of us here.

It does prove there is much good in the world and that most people are good and caring. That restores and boisters our faith in humanity.

posted January 03, 2008 10:05 PM         

Kevin you, Amanda and those people you mentioned in your update who have done so much for you and your family through this rough time in your lives truly are inspiring to the rest of us here.

It does prove there is much good in the world and that most people are good and caring. That restores and boisters our faith in humanity.

posted January 05, 2008 08:18 AM         

Please keep us informed.

The agri-chemical / computer issue is something to really consider. I can't believe that that type of dumping has been going on.

You and your family continues to be in our prayers.

Hugs,

posted January 07, 2008 01:33 AM         

Here's the latest development in my life. When it rains it pours...

In the several weeks that my family has not been in our house a severe Black Mold problem has taken over the house we were living in. Due to this situation we are now homeless. Our home cannot be lived in and the contents of the home are toxic. We have only the clothes that we have in bags and my laptop computer.
Such a strange turn of events this has caused. My family was so excited to be going home after being guests in someone else's home during my radiation treatments. Now they have no home.
We hope to be signing a lease on a property in Ames sometime within the next 48 hours, though we have no furniture, no clothing, no beds, nothing.
I am not asking for charity. Just providing an update on my situation.
Thanks to Amanda for holding up so well under the circumstances. In addition to helping me in my recovery from cancer, she is pregnant with our fourth child, Tegan. And now she is facing a very uncertain future indeed.
Thanks to my sister Janet for letting me know the dire situation that the house we were in was putting us into. She has a son that works with mold removal crews and contacted him in relation to this situation and passed on very pertinent information, i.e. "Pregnant women, children and those with compromised immune systems should not be in an environment with this kind of mold, or any other." That would describe my entire family at the moment.
When we left our home for the hospital over a month ago, we were living with a situation that we were unhappy with but was being kept at bay by regular surface cleaning. Without anyone around to keep this in check it took over the house. I used to collect books. My entire book collection is now toxic trash. Thousands of books, some long out of print. Many of them very valued resources for my work. Gone.
Clothing, gone.
Furniture, gone.
Family photos, gone.
Children's school work from the year, gone.
It's like having your house burn down but worse. Worse because the stuff is all still there, but you just can't have it anymore.
We are going to do what we can to get the kids' Christmas gifts from this year out of the house and cleaned up so that they are safe to play with. There were some new clothes there as well that we had just placed in the house yesterday. These things may be able to be salvaged. I hope that someone may take it upon themselves to assist my family in the task of extricating these and a few other "bleachable" items for us in the coming days.
I guess I'll stop this ramble now and spend some time on something else.
Peace, love, health.
Kevin

------------------
The truth is ... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else. ~ Countee Cullen

posted January 07, 2008 01:54 AM         

I am at a loss for words. Indeed, when it rains it pours.

I wish I was in a position to do more but all I can really do is pray that everything turns out okay and even better than okay for you and all your family.

posted January 07, 2008 10:56 PM         

The way the mind grasps for
solace in face of incomprehensible circumstance.

I'm at a loss of words myself.

My heart and prayers are very much
with you all through this testing time.
As you are angels,
surely mysterious gravities are at work...
and mysterious movements of love,

posted January 09, 2008 06:13 PM         

Peace be with you.

posted January 17, 2008 02:27 AM         

Concern, hope
and so much love to you,

~Lisa

posted January 17, 2008 10:53 AM         

We did get the lease signed and have spent the last week finding furniture, household needs like kitchen utentils, dishes, etc.

I think we might actually be getting some sort of equilibrium in our lives.

I love my new house! It's so nice and clean and we have wonderful neighbors, and all of our friends are right around the corner from us. Several of them have done so much to help us get furniture etc. The driveway was covered in about 3 inches of ice when we got here, and I was seriously concerned about Kevin's ability to walk safely. It was like skating. Two of our friends came over and chopped up all the ice and removed it so that we could get in and out of the house. Someone left us a $50 gift certificate to the local organic grocery store. People we don't even know have brought us bedding, and two girls who go to the Unitarian Universalist church with us, brought over a box of books and toys for the kids.

With such goodness in the world, and love from people, I can't be angry about what happened. To do so, seems to me, would be to spurn the gift and opportunity the Universe has given me and my family.

Thanks for thinking of us during this time of upheaval in our lives.

Hugs and Love,
Amanda/GG

------------------
The truth is ... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else. ~ Countee Cullen

posted January 17, 2008 05:20 PM         

Yours and Kevin's experience, although, very hard and trying for both of you, has had so many truly spiritual uplifting experiences at the same time. I personally can just see from your updates and what you share with us God working in your lives to bring much good out of the bad things.

You have so many beautiful angels in human form in your lives right now bringing you love and hope and helping you both. Wish I could give them all a big hug. Beautiful souls they are. Just being themselves and spreading the light of love in the world.

It just brings tears of joy to my eyes reading this. Thank you both so much for sharing this part of the journey of your lives with us. It has been so heart wrenching and at the same time so spiritually uplifting. Sorry if I am at a loss as to adequately explain my feelings here.

It makes me so happy to hear that the dark clouds are starting to lift and sunshine is coming back into yours and Kevin and the kids lives. You guys are beautiful souls yourselves and deserve very much the good and the love being returned to you for all you give to others.

posted January 20, 2008 05:44 PM         

You've been telling about the rest of the fam and the challenges and trials you've undergone, but what about YOU: how are YOU feeling honey, and when are you due??